Release Detail

May 25, 2005 - U.S. Voters Back Roe v. Wade 2-1, Support Filibusters,
Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds;
Bush Approval At Lowest Point Ever

While American voters have mixed opinions about abortion, they support the U.S. Supreme
Court's Roe v. Wade decision 63 - 33 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll
released today. Men support it 68 - 28 percent, while women support it 58 - 37 percent.

Voters divided along party lines on the use of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate "to
keep unfit judges off the bench" or prevent a full vote on judicial nominees. Republicans
oppose filibusters 48 - 39 percent while Democrats support their use 70 - 23 percent and
independent voters back them 54 - 39 percent.

Voters nationwide approve 44 - 39 percent of the job the U.S. Supreme Court is
doing, the lowest score for the court and down from a 56 - 27 percent approval in a March
5, 2003, poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

As President George W. Bush makes future Supreme Court nominations, 39 percent
of Americans want to maintain the present ideological balance on the court, while 29
percent want the court to be more liberal and 27 percent want it to be more conservative.

"While the filibuster fight ended in a truce, most American voters were backing the
Democrats on this one," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University
Polling Institute. "If this fight were really about Roe v. Wade, Quinnipiac University polls
have shown a consistent 2 -1 support for this historic ruling, with more support from men."

Looking at American voter attitudes about abortion, the poll finds:

18 percent say abortion should be legal in all cases;

37 percent say abortion should be legal in most cases;

27 percent say abortion should be illegal in most cases;

14 percent say abortion should be illegal in all cases.

"On abortion, there's a silent majority. Both ends of the debate are making the
noise, but 64 percent of American voters are in the middle, perhaps looking for that
common ground," Carroll said.

In other attitudes about the Supreme Court, American voters say:

50 - 33 percent that the next Chief Justice should be a member of the current court,
rather than an outsider;

Support for any one justice to take the top job does not top 6 percent;

65 percent haven't heard enough about Justice Antonin Scalia, the most widely
quoted justice, to form an opinion;

A total of 79 percent say public opinion should have a "great deal" or "some"
influence on Supreme Court decisions, but only 34 percent say public opinion
actually has a "great deal" or "some" influence;

51 - 42 percent that the Supreme Court should consider changing times in making
decisions, rather than the original intent of the authors of the Constitution.

Voters also say 60 - 34 percent that a nominee to any federal judgeship should state
his or her position on abortion.

"The Supreme Court doesn't listen to the people, but it should, most Americans say.
And despite what the lawyers and legislators say, Americans want to know where judicial
nominees stand on abortion," Carroll said.
President Bush's Approval

American voters disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing 50 - 44
percent, his lowest approval rating since becoming President. This compares to a 48 - 45
percent disapproval in a March 9 Quinnipiac University poll.

From May 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,104 registered voters
nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and
nationwide as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his
job as President?

TREND: Which comes closer to your point of view?
(A) In making decisions, the Supreme Court should only consider the original
intentions of the authors of the Constitution or
(B) In making decisions, the Supreme Court should consider changing times and
current realities in applying the principles of the Constitution.
(* All Adults)

(A) (B) DK/NA

May 25, 2005 42 51 8
Mar 5, 2003 41 53 6
Mar 5, 2003* 39 54 7

TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases,
illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?
(* All adults)

5. If Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist retires and President Bush
has to pick a new chief justice, should the new chief justice be a member of
the current court or should President Bush go outside and pick someone else
to be chief justice?

7. Thinking about the current members of the Supreme Court, do you think
Justice Antonin Scalia would or would not make a good Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, or haven't you heard enough about him?

10. Which comes closer to your point of view:
A) In making decisions, the Supreme Court should only consider the original
intentions of the authors of the Constitution.
or
B) In making decisions, the Supreme Court should consider changing times and
current realities in applying the principles of the Constitution.

12. As you may know, a filibuster can be used to prevent a vote on judicial
nominations in the Senate. Which comes closer to your point of view?
A) The filibuster should be used to keep unfit judges off the bench.
or
B) The filibuster should not be used, because nominees deserve a vote by
the full Senate.